What Free agents Could Be Matches with the Indians This Offseason?

It's unlikely the Indians will emerge as serious contenders in 2016 without roster additions via free agency and/or trades.

Given the current cast of position players, it might not be enough even if the solid starting pitching rotation performs like Cleveland's long-ago fabled staffs of Feller, Lemon, Wynn and Garcia.

The Indians have one of baseball's weakest group of outfielders, have questions at third base and need consistent run production from the designated hitter slot. They have sub-standard major league-ready organizational depth. It would be ideal if one or two of these issues could be solved with much-needed right-handed hitting.

Though there seems to be starting pitching depth, the cliché that "you never have enough" is accurate. Seldom do teams escape injuries and disappointments within the rotation. The Indians could use a left-handed starter, anyway, and the addition of another starter could make a holdover available in trade talks. The Tribe also doesn't have any lefty reliever owning an impressive major league resume.

We know the Indians won't be in the running for the most appealing and thus expensive free agents.

But, given their budget restraints, here are a dozen free agents -- in alphabetical order -- that might fit into the Indians' budget and help meet roster needs. None of them received qualifying offers from the teams they finished last season with, so none would require the team signing them to forfeit a draft pick. Each player's age is what he will be on Opening Day:

Antonio Bastardo, relief pitcher, age 30

The left-handed short reliever has made between 64 and 67 appearances in four of the last five seasons. Usually going to the four-seam fastball or slider as his out pitch, Bastardo went 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 57 1/3 innings spanning 66 games last season with the Pirates. He allowed just 39 hits, while striking out 64 and walking 26.

Rajai Davis, outfield, 35

Davis still runs well, and is a solid defender at any of the outfield positions. The right-handed hitter owns a .296 career batting average against left-handed pitching, so he could add balance to the Indians' lineup.

Davis hit .258, and showed off extra-base power/speed with 16 doubles, 11 triples and eight home runs in 341 at bats with the Tigers last season. He drew just 22 walks while fanning 76 times, and he stole 18 bases in 26 attempts. In the previous seven years, Davis averaged 40 stolen bases in 50 tries.

David Freese, third base, 32

His fielding range has diminished, and he's a step slow on the bases, but Freese adds much to a team, and the Indians could do worse than him if they decide Giovanny Urshela isn't the Immediate answer at the hot corner.

Freese, the 2011 World Series and National League Championship Series MVP, remains a solid clutch hitter and a steadying influence on a team. The righty hitter's stats were modest last season with the Angels, hitting .257 with a .323 on-base percentage and .420 slugging percentage. He did slug 14 homers. Free agency pickings at third base this offseason are slim, so an average team like the Indians might need to make an especially attractive offer.

J.A. Happ, starting pitcher, 33

The left-handed Happ has come to rely on his four-seam fastball, which sits around 92 miles per hour but has excellent movement and is effective against hitters from both sides of the plate.

With his free agency looming, Happ picked a fine time to shine after the Mariners sent him to the Pirates in a July 31 trade. Happ went 7-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts with the Bucs, with 69 strikeouts and 13 walks in 63 1/3 innings. He had been so-so in the first four months with Seattle, going 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 108 2/3 innings.

Austin Jackson, outfield, 29

Jackson may not be the extraordinary defensive center fielder of a couple years ago, but he remains among the best. And, his hitting has declined somewhat over the last two seasons.

Jackson was a bench player with the Cubs last season after they acquired him in trade deadline deal with the Mariners. The righty hitter had just 72 at bats over the final two months. In a combined 491 at bats with the teams, Jackson hit .267 with nine homers, 29 walks and 126 strikeouts. He had 17 stolen bases and 10 caught stealings.

Mike Napoli, first base/outfield, 34

Napoli was quite productive with the Rangers in 2011-12, and they got him back in an Aug. 7 trade with the Red Sox. The right-handed hitter had a .295 batting average and five homers in 78 at bats with Texas. He had struggled with Boston in the first part of the campaign, hitting .207 in 329 at bats with 45 walks and 99 strikeouts. He did clout 13 home runs for the Red Sox.

Still, Napoli produced against lefty pitching over the course of the campaign, hitting .278 with 12 homers and 27 walks in 151 at bats. A solid defensive first baseman, Napoli also played some left field for Texas late in the season. He and the Rangers seem interested in a continued reunion, but if that doesn't work out, the Indians could be among his best options.

Gerardo Parra, outfield, 28

The Indians are in more need of a right-hander, but the lefty-hitting Parra could still help -- especially if he would play like he did for the Brewers before they dealt him to the Orioles at the trade deadline.

Parra hit .328 in 323 at bats for Milwaukee, with 24 doubles, five triples and nine homers. He did draw just 20 walks. With Baltimore, Parra slid to .237 in 224 at bats. He homered five times and collected just eight walks. Parra was a combined 14-of-18 base stealing with the two teams.

Parra can play any outfield position well. In fact, he won Gold Gloves while with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011 and 2013.

Steve Pearce, outfield/first base, 32

Pearce slugged 15 home runs in just 294 at bats with the Orioles last season, but he hit just .218 with 23 walks and 69 strikeouts. The right-handed hitter was remarkably productive in 2014, with a .293 batting average, 26 doubles and 21 homers in 338 at bats. He is an acceptable defender at the corner outfield positions and at first base and added some versatility last season, playing 18 games at second base.

Tony Sipp, relief pitcher, 32

The left-handed short man spent the first four years (2009-12) of his big league career with the Indians, posting a 3.68 ERA with 225 strikeouts in 220 1/3 innings over 248 outings.

Sipp was released by the Padres on May 1, 2014 and immediately picked up by the Astros. He pitched well in Houston over the remainder of that campaign and especially in the past season, when he had a 1.99 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings.

An improved changeup has helped Sipp become effective against righty hitters. It would not be surprising to see a few contenders court him.

Denard Span, outfield, 32

Among the players on this list, Span may well land the largest contract. That, despite his missing much of last season and having surgery on his left hip for a torn labrum.

The lefty-swinging Span hit .301, but had just 275 at bats, for the Nationals in 2015. He had 17 doubles, five homers, 25 walks and 26 strikeouts, and was 11-of-11 on stolen bases. He is still considered one of the game's best defensive center fielders.

Juan Uribe, third base, 37

Uribe is much like Freese in the "intangibles" category. He is a proven big-game player with championship experience and a team leader.

Despite his age, the former shortstop is still solid defensively. He can also fill in at second base. Last season, Uribe played for the Dodgers, Braves and Mets, hitting a combined .253 in 360 at bats. He still has pop, as shown by his 14 homers. He walked 34 times and fanned 80.

Chris Young, outfield, 32

Not to be confused with Chris Young the free agent pitcher, who helped the Royals win the World Series.

This Chris Young, a right-handed hitter, can play any of the outfield positions and do a good job. He hit .252 with 14 homers in 318 at bats for the Yankees last season, with a .320 on-base percentage and a .453 slugging percentage. What should be especially attractive to the Indians is that in 153 at bats against left-handed pitching, Young hit .327 with 15 doubles and seven homers.